Source: World Superbike Championship

A perfectly-timed lap from Kawasaki Racing Team pilot Loris Baz saw him secure his first ever World Superbike Superpole win at Assen, smashing the standing lap record in the process.

Banking a lap time early was the goal for those in the final session as cloudy skies threatened.

Frenchman Baz set the early pace but was unseated by Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli in the decisive stages. A last-ditch effort by Baz paid dividends, with the 1m34.357 lap putting him back in charge as the rain began to fall.

Lap times suffered as the track conditions deteriorated, leaving 21-year-old Baz to celebrate his maiden pole position.

Guintoli, a big improver after a lacklustre showing on Friday, held on for second, with points leader Tom Sykes rounding out the front row, close to a second off the pace of his younger teammate.

Marco Melandri will start Sunday’s pair of races from fourth, with Jonathan Rea, the former lap record holder, in fifth, alongside practice pacesetter, Ducati’s Davide Giugliano.

Althea Racing Ducati’s Niccolo Canepa produced one of the top performances of the session, qualifying his EVO class Panigale in seventh outright.

Both Voltcom Crescent Suzuki riders were caught out by the changing conditions, with Eugene Laverty (eighth) and Alex Lowes (ninth) missing the chance for a final flying lap on new rubber.

Toni Elias completed the top 10 placings for Aprilia, while Leon Haslam and Chaz Davies faced their own difficulties in qualifying to set the 11th and 12th-fastest times respectively.

Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres’ Florian Marino maintained his early practice pace to lock down a maiden pole position in the World Supersport class ahead of Sunday’s race.

As it did in the premier class, rain played a part in the decisive stages of qualifying, ensuring Marino’s early 1m38.106 remained unbeaten.

Home favourite Michael van der Mark looked set to steal pole before having his run interrupted by another rider, forced to settle for third after a late charge from Mahi Team India Kawasaki’s Kenan Sofuoglu.

Yakhnich Motorsport MV Agusta rider Jules Cluzel heads row two from Jack Kennedy and points leader Kevin Coghlam, with all the championship protagonists in the mix.

In the Superstock 1000 class it was Team Pedercini’s Lorenzo Savadori in charge for pole, seeing off the challenge of Barni Racing Ducati teammates Leandro Mercado and Ondrej Jezek who will start second and third respectively.

Niki Tuuli claimed a comfortable win in the Superstock 600 ranks, beating Kevin Manfredi to the line by a 5.151-second margin. Polesitter Wayne Tessels completed the podium in third, a distant 14.661 seconds away from the winner.

The lone Aussie in the World Superbike Championship ranks, Adrian Nestorovic, claimed a point for his 15th place finish for MVR Yamaha.

Rounding out the track activity was the Honda European Junior Cup, with Spanish rider Marc Miralles claiming pole position in the one-make category.

2014 World Superbike Championship
Round three – Assen, Netherlands

Superbike qualifying results:
1. Loris BAZ 1m34.357
2. Sylvain GUINTOLI 1m34.845
3. Tom SYKES 1m35.311
4. Marco MELANDRI 1m35.333
5. Jonathan REA 1m35.361
6. Davide GIUGLIANO 1m35.476
7. Niccolo CANEPA 1m35.500
8. Eugene LAVERTY 1m35.646
9. Alex LOWES 1m35.684
10. Toni ELIAS 1m36.203

Supersport qualifying results:
1. Florian MARINO 1m38.106
2. Kenan SOFUOGLU 1m38.225
3. Michael van der MARK 1m38.228
4. Jules CLUZEL 1m38.334
5. Jack KENNEDY 1m38.762
6. Kevin COGHLAN 1m38.792
7. Lorenzo ZANETTI 1m38.843
8. Marco BUSSOLOTTI 1m38.857
9. PJ JACOBSEN 1m38.9170,3
10. Roberto DE ROSA 1m38.979

Click here for detailed results